Beloved Tennis Professional Ian Longua Passes Away Suddenly at Age 44

Beloved tennis and paddle pro Ian Longua passed away unexpectedly at the age of 44 at his home on July 19, 2017. Longua led a very successful racquets program at Scarsdale Golf Club and also taught at Rye Racquet for many years. He was an avid sportsman and played tournament paddle, competing in the nationals.

His dynamic personality attracted many new players to the tennis and paddle programs at Scarsdale Golf Club. To young players he was a mentor and coached some successful local players privately. Each year he organized memorable trips to Palm Island, Florida for pre-season training for members of the ladies tennis teams.

Many of the club members and his paddle partners considered him a close friend and he had a gift for making personal connections. He was affable, outgoing and supportive and welcomed players of all levels to the courts. He was well known throughout the paddle and tennis community in Westchester and will leave a void on the courts.

He worked up to the day of his passing and members of the club, co-workers, staff and his paddle buddies were shocked to learn of his untimely death.

Ian came to Scarsdale Golf Club in 2007 as the Director of Tennis from Manursing Island Club where he was the Assistant Tennis Pro for six years, and was promoted in 2012 to Director of Racquet Sports. Growing up in New Hampshire, as the son of a tennis professional, he played tennis for virtually his entire life. He learned all aspects of the sport from his father, the former Head Pro at Palm Island Resort in Florida, who passed away earlier this year. Ian was a passionate fan of the Patriots and Red Sox.

Ian graduated from Concordia College in Bronxville, NY where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree. He played N.C.A.A. tennis and was nationally ranked in the top 10 for four years. Ian and his partner won the NY State Regional Men's 5.0 Doubles and participated in the Men's 5.0 National Doubles Tournament.

Early in Ian's career he worked as an Assistant Tennis Pro at Sunningdale Country Club, Bronxville Field Club and American Yacht Club.

He is survived by two sons, Zach and Bryce, by his mother Marguerite Longua, sister Courtney Longua and hundreds of friends and sportsmen. A memorial service will be held at Lloyd Maxcy & Sons Beauchamp Chapel, Inc. 16 Shea Place New Rochelle, NY 10805 on Saturday July 22 from 11am to 1 pm.